mei mei

| techiehux

mei-mei-doin-roleplay:

It was boring. Day in, day out, the endless menial tasks for the First Order as it’s last standing Force User had begun to tire Naomai. Her companion was mysteriously missing from her side and she had no one to occupy her quarters. Even all the trinkets and treasures taken from her opponents, war criminals and conquered kingdoms couldn’t comfort her like a simple conversation could. She watched the dangling jewelry tacked to the ceiling become the playground for the numerous AI creatures that had slunk out from the depths of her hoard once they deemed it safe enough. She felt the cold metal of a mouse droid brush against her fingers resting over the side of her bed; a meagre comfort when compared to the warmth of another’s body. Her thoughts drifted to her Master. How cold he must be in his grave without her. 

Naomai removed her hand from the droid circling around it to grab the comlink at her belt. “Commander-”She spoke sharply ”-I want someone in my chambers. Make it quick or I won’t be happy.” 

All on board The Supremacy knew that the unfortunate worker brought to Naomai would lose their job by their overseeing higher up, if they failed to satisfy her. Or they would lose their life, if they were not so lucky. Thus, the worker had to be expendable in some way, or important enough to be kept alive. It was a tough decision for the commander to make, but he eventually settled on William Hux, otherwise known as Techie. Orders were sent through and Techie was told to make haste to Naomai’s quarters, escorted by two stormtroopers like a prisoner.

Starter for @techiehux 

This was his worst nightmare come true. From master to master; Techie was doomed by powers greater than him to a life of servitude, it seemed. He shook like a crisp autumn leaf as two broad troopers led him to Naomai, served up on a silver platter. How he missed the comforts of his brother, of his lover, in moments like these. But Hux had far more important things to worry about,

He’d heard rumors of what went down in her quarters, vague but threatening enough to make him rush into a fresher and cough up his meager lunch. These days, Techie ate little. He may never eat again.

Once he crosses the threshold of her quarters, Techie squeezes his eyes shut and falls to his knees, voice wracked with tremors he struggles to control as he says, “I am h-here…” What should he call her? “MaMa,” whispered a treacherous memory. No! No, thank the stars. But perhaps Naomai would be… worse.

| techiehux

mei-mei-doin-roleplay:

techiehux:

“We’ll m-make it a good morning,” Techie smiles. Now, more than ever, she needs a bright presence in her life. The sobbing is a clear indication of that. So despite his own aches and emotional baggage, Techie sits up with an indulgent stretch and asks, cheery, “Wh-what do you want for breakfast? I can s-send for something nice.” It was one of the perks of being a top technician with friends amongst the higher-ups, although he rarely, if ever, took advantage of this.

Techie slides off the bed and runs his fingers through his bed-head, not doing much to disentangle it. It actually sticks up funny in the back.

Her head snaps to stare at him. Food? She could have food? And did he just offer nice food? She wasn’t going to let this go and for the moment Techie’s hair wasn’t noticed. “How much breakfast can you get away with without being suspicious?” She asks, deciding to sacrifice quality for quantity. Good food only lasted so long. 

“Also-” She gets onto her hands and knees, reaching for his shirt to drag him back onto the bed to sit. Her grimy hands attack his hair, roughly patting it down. It took only a moment for her to be aware of their closeness, and of the human touch she had been craving. She pushes him away. “There. Now get up.” 

He’s about to answer when Mei grabs hold of his shirt and Techie sits down hard with a sharp exhale. If his heart is beating faster than is normal, he doesn’t show it. The rough handling woke up old, unpleasant memories. But they’re soon banished when Nao’s hands reach his head. Techie’s fists relax, eyes slipping shut. They fall into a comfortable silence as she flattens his hair, and when the touch leaves his head, Techie stirs back to full alertness.

With shakey legs and newly-tamed hair, Techie stands up, and glances into a mirror that’s placed awkwardly at the edge of a desk, turned as though it’s seldom used. A small smile blooms on his face when he catches sight of himself. Somehow, Nao’s fervid patting had made him look better!

“Th-thanks,” he mumbles, a little shy, and then adds, “I can get an extra p-portion or two, and n-nobody will care… Matt tries to g-get me to eat more anyway.”

| techiehux

“We’ll m-make it a good morning,” Techie smiles. Now, more than ever, she needs a bright presence in her life. The sobbing is a clear indication of that. So despite his own aches and emotional baggage, Techie sits up with an indulgent stretch and asks, cheery, “Wh-what do you want for breakfast? I can s-send for something nice.” It was one of the perks of being a top technician with friends amongst the higher-ups, although he rarely, if ever, took advantage of this.

Techie slides off the bed and runs his fingers through his bed-head, not doing much to disentangle it. It actually sticks up funny in the back.

| techiehux

It was rare that Techie fell into a deep sleep, but the events of the day had utterly exhausted him. His mind fell oddly silent except for… a dream? Not a nightmare like the usual fare.

Techie caught glimpses of colors: a sunshine yellow, wisps of soft charcoal, an earthy brown.  There were voices too; one that sent satisfied shivers down his spine and another, more youthful, that made Techie feel warm and his heart full to bursting. These were the soft, intangible things that he reached out for- so close, his fingers just brushing something smooth like the satin of a hair ribbon, and then-

He woke up. 

“Nao,” he whispers, hoarse. His throat is so dry it feels like the oppressively hot sun of Mega City One has taken up residence in it. She’s still there. Some deeply buried fear that Naomi would steal away in the night and never be seen again was laid to rest. Techie sits up and sees that she’s coming to.

Gently, he pulls the blanket up over her shoulders where it had slipped down during the night. “Good morning.” 

| techiehux

After a long moment of Nao’s body-shaking sobs and soft, murmured comforts being whispered into her ear, Techie starts to notice her breathing evening. Had she tired herself out? He tries to crane his neck to check if she’s fallen asleep but it’s no use. 

Techie does the next best thing: he hums. Soft, slow, safe. 

Asleep or not, he hopes this will calm Nao. The human mind has a horrible (if useful) tendency to remember depressing as hell things in order to make itself cry or cry harder, and without a doubt Techie understands that’s what this is.

Some nights he sobs to himself about every single problem he’s ever had, just to purge the memories for a while, like getting a vaccine. The acid, his father, the awfully cramped bed in Peach Trees, getting his eyes scooped out of his skull, months of endless wandering, the things he had to do to survive and keep his bad habits fed. Every memory an open wound.

He doesn’t stop humming the faraway wisps of a song he’d heard as a little boy until Nao goes completely still, slumped and snoozing.

Techie thinks that maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to rest tonight too.

Naomi shoves a rose into Techie’s hands. “I dunno what Valentines is but it’s something about giving dumb flowers to the person you like and you’re the only one who likes me, so.” (This is early but I can assure you I’d forget and be a million years late. Enjoy platonic valentine Nomi!!)

| techiehux

Techie’s face, previously exhausted-looking and dull, brightened at the surprise gift. “Nao!” he gasps, smiling wide, “Th-Thank you! I was having a sh-, uh, s-sucky day but you’ve made it so much better!” He leans down slightly to affectionately pet her hair, and then does the unexpected: Techie kisses the top of her head. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Nao.” 

[I’m the one who forgot and was a million years late… Whoops 😫]

| techiehux

Techie was startled out of his light doze by the soft sobs and the shaking of her thin shoulders. “I’m still here, Nao. We’re safe. Don’t be scared,” he says reassuringly, voice a little raspy from sleep. It takes him a moment to regain full consciousness, but once he’s alert once more, Techie keeps holding her safely against his chest and lets her get it all out of her system.

“S’good to cry. You’ll f-feel better after, I promise.” He recalls Tommy sobbing when he said he had to leave, and how their parting hug felt too short despite that neither wanted to let go. In this moment, Naomi needs to not be let go, no matter what. Techie gets the feeling that she’s been “let go” too many times before.

| techiehux

He scooched closer to Nao and gently slotted her against his chest, bringing his legs up to make some kind of half-cocoon. The world had already beaten them both down enough for a lifetime, but maybe, just maybe, Nao could feel sheltered here, with him. Safe.

Techie feigned sleep long enough for any excess tension to drain. His mind started to drift, hazy ideas fleeting when he tried to focus on any of them. There were images, too. Vague but good ones…

Of a future where they could both be happy. Maybe together.